The Sun and the Stars: A Twilestia Prompt Collab

by Fuzzyfurvert

195. Second Chances: Live Wire by ArguingPizza

by ArguingPizza

***

(This is PART 3 in a cross-collab continuation with the Twidance collab. You can find Part 1 and Part 2 at these links!)

The Throne Room of Canterlot Palace was packed to the rafters, literally when the Pegasi were taken into account, with petitioners, guards, advisors, and officials. Day Court was in full swing, and for the uncountable-upon-tenth time that day alone, Celestia repressed a sigh. Alone in a crowded room described Celestia’s life rather well, in her opinion.

Princess Celestia ex Astria had 7 Cabinet officials, 12 court advisors, 28 personal guards, and over 300 Palace staff at her beck and call, but very, very few friends. She could count on her sister, of course, but her sister was also a Princess. Status meant that their schedules rarely left time for one another, and while they could choose to throw their itineraries aside for a day of bonding, the ensuing bureaucratic headaches meant they rarely indulged. When their differing sleep cycles were taken into account on top of their responsibilities, it left Celestia very much alone.

Twilight Sparkle had been her salvation.

Celestia smiled to herself as the Minister of the Interior argued with the Minister of Finance over the cost of a railway bridge. It had been many years since the little purple filly had unleashed a magical storm that had threatened to engulf her school, and Celestia was absolutely positive the expensive reconstruction had been entirely worth it.

In Twilight she had found, for the first time in years, a pony who wanted nothing more from her than companionship. Twilight’s heart, so pure and loving, had been overjoyed to merely spend time learning and reading with her. Twilight had never asked her for anything in her entirely life, aside from more books and the occasional cookie. The thought made her giggle, but fortunately for her the Ministers were so engrossed in their tirades they spared her no notice.

Celestia’s gaze wandered the room, taking in the half dozen stained glass windows that commemorated Twilight’s many triumphs. Her defeat of Nightmare Moon and redemption of Luna, her conquest of Discord, her courageous battle against Tirek, her Coronation.

That last image depicted one of the happiest days of Celestia’s life. The friend she had gained would, unlike all that had come before, never leave her. Twilight would never wither, never fade away until at last her final dying breath was carried away on the wind. Her dear, dear friend would…

Friend.

Celestia’s smile flickered and died, and she turned her eyes away from the stained glass windows, especially the ones featuring Cadence. A pang of an emotion she refused to name pierced her chest and stole her breath.

The day of Twilight and Cadence’s wedding had been one of the hardest days of her life, almost as hard as the day she had banished her sister. Officiating the ceremony had twisted the dagger plunged into her heart until she felt like screaming, but she had worn her ceramic smile brightly and nopony else had suspected a thing. Nopony suspected she would have given everything, even her Kingdom, to trade places with her Niece.

Celestia’s ruminations, and the Ministers’ increasingly uncivil discourse, was abruptly interrupted by a shaking so powerful it knocked several ponies off their hooves. A roar unlike anything Celestia had ever heard tore through the air, leaving all but Celestia clutching their ears in torment. Celestia, as well as every unicorn in the room, winced as a live wire was placed on each of their horns. The shock left a flurry of nosebleeds in its wake, though Celestia was counted not among them.

Celestia was on her hooves and galloping towards the source of the disturbance before her ponies had even begun to recover. She recognized the magic that had shocked her horn, and dread weighed heavily in her stomach as she passed through the labyrinthine halls.

Celestia burst through the heavy timber doors that led to the Palace courtyard, and was confronted with a warzone. The trees lining the yard had been uprooted and tossed about, charred and stripped bare of their leaves. The stone walls around the perimeter were covered in a spiderweb of cracks. The courtyard’s granite pavestones had been reduced to scorched, jagged gravel.

In the center of the devastation stood Twilight Sparkle, her hooves steaming on the blackened earth. Her mane blazed in a nonexistent wind, wisps of fire flashing in and out of existence like lightning bugs. Twilight’s horn was alight in a display of raw, unfocused power that rolled off of her in waves.

“WHERE IS HE?!” she bellowed, the force of her voice shattering nearby windows and releasing a hailstorm of glass.

“Twilight?” Celestia asked hesitantly, an anxious tremble coloring her tone.

Twilight turned her gaze toward Celestia, who saw that her eyes were blazing white with fury and power. Twilight recognized her, but didn’t relax. Instead, she teleported, the spell as violent as a meteor crashing to earth. Twilight reappeared inches away from Celestia’s muzzle.

“Where. Is. He.”

Celestia reminded herself that she was not facing an eldritch evil, but instead her dear former pupil. The thought helped her steady her reply.

“Who?”

“Shining Armor!” Twilight snarled, her clenched teethed bared.

Celestia knew where her Captain of the Guard was, but she didn’t think it would be wise to reveal that information to Twilight. Instead, she asked, “What is the matter, Twilight? Tell me, so that I may help you.” She put on a supportive smile, a genuine one, completely separate from the faux-motherly attitude she usually maintained.

“Nopony can help me!” Spittle rained on Celestia’s muzzle, but she paid it no mind. The brightening display of enraged magic in front of her was of greater concern.

“Twilight,” Celestia replied in a calm, caring tone, “There is nothing in the world I would not do for you. Please, tell me what has gone so wrong.” She punctuated her short speech by laying a gentle hoof on Twilight’s peytral. The gold of her hoofshoes sizzled from the heat, but Celestia was undisturbed.

Twilight stared at her for a long moment, seemingly at war inside her head. Rage fought hard to retain its place of glory, but it was no match for the respect and care for Celestia Twilight held deep in her heart.

Like a candle dropped in the ocean, Twilight’s fires were snuffed out. She collapsed against Celestia’s chest, sobbing violently enough to nearly shake Celestia off her hooves. It was all she could do to cradle Twilight lovin-tenderly, as she gave all the comfort she could.

Through her tears, Twilight choked out, “How could they do this to me?”

Celestia had no answers, and didn’t even properly understand the question. Instead, she stroked Twilight’s mane and let her cry her troubles away.

Halfway through Twilight’s breakdown, a swarm of papers materialized in clouds of green smoke and rained down on their heads. Celestia began to read, and then hugged Twilight even tighter.

Comments

[Hobbestc]

Cadance cheated on Twi with Shiny. WHat a bum. Oh well, looks like Celestia can get what she wants in the long run.

[Kage no Brony]

Ho-lee sheets. Cadence, you dun goofed. You dun goofed so hard, ponies will tell tales of the scorned bride for centuries...

And even with thousands of years to over-exaggerate the tale beyond recognition, they still won't come close to adequately describing the damages.

[fireflutterpony]

You know, I really would love a more fleshed out (slightly more fleshed out, anyway ... the short pieces so far have been wonderful) version of this as a standalone story. It totally deserves it.

Now I'm waiting for the short about Celestia totally flipping on Cadence. I mean, to swallow her ego and step aside for Cadence, only for Twilight to get hurt like this? Raise the solar thermal mirrors and ready the molten salt batteries, ladies, we're gonna bank enough thermal energy for the next millennium off THIS solar flare.

*gets heavy-duty sunglasses*

[Oddboy]

So, Twilight and Cadence love each other, but as it turns out, Celestia also loves Twilight. However, she graciously steps aside without making a scene or even telling anyone that she really, really would have liked to have taken Cadence's place. Nobody notices and the wedding happens without a hitch.

That's some dedication, right there.

Twilight and Cadence live the happily married life... Until they don't, when Twilight finds out Cadence has cheated on her... with Shining Armor. Ouch! Not sure why either of them thought that was a good idea, but at least it proves that the siblings both like fluffy pink uni- err, alicorns, and that Cadence seems to have a fetish for siblings or something.

Or maybe she subconsciously wanted a kid and somehow thought it was a good idea to get Shining Armor to provide one, so they'd all be blood related, but couldn't consciously go through with it, thus the condoms mentioned in.... Part 2, I think. (At this point I'm basically pulling theories out of my ass)

EITHER WAY! Twilight finds out and she's pissed about it. She flies off, telports off to be precise, looking for her backstabbing older brother who really should have known better, and runs into Celestia who manages to defuse the situation before Twilight blows up some buildings and possibly Shining Armor.

Then the awful truth is revealed, I presume, when those letters arrive.

I severely doubt Celestia is impressed, but she's occupied with comforting her friend/crush at the moment, so that's a non-issue for the time being... No, Cadence should worry more about Luna. Miss Princess of the Night is known to have a temper, and she is not busy comforting Twilight.

And then there's Shining Armor... He doesn't just have to worry about Celestia and Luna, in fact, forget them, he's got to face his parents! I mean, how do you explain to your mother and father that you fucked your sister's wife? Screwing somebody else's wife in general isn't looked very favorably upon, but to do it to a sibling's wife?

I wouldn't be surprised if his mother bitchslaps him a good one.

...Now I REALLY want to see what happens next.

[The Hero Pony]

I hate this Cadance. I allow it because it leads to Twilestia.

[ArguingPizza]

4655132
4654997

Speaking of what happens next...

[Jane_Shadow]

4655132
Your comment has made me smile
I absolutely love it.
I also think your theories work and I want to be there so bad when velvet finds out about shining and cadance.